Seat cover package rack



Jan- 15, 1935 J. c. THOMASMA SEAT COVER PACKAGE RACK Original Filed Dec.

In ifeni'for" Thomasr/za Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,987,723v y SEAT COVER PACKAGE RACK John C. Thomasma, Chicago, Ill.

Original application December 9, 1933, Serial No. 701,599. Divided and this applicationv March 24, 1934, Serial No. '117,143

y 8 Claims. (C1. 211-71) My invention relates to novel improvements in a toilet paper seat container or rack which is quickly mountable in a convenient position with respect to a' toilet seat and in such a Way as to support a package of toilet seat covers in a position rearwardly above and transversely of the toilet seat.v

This application is a division of my former application filed December 9, 1933, Serial No. 701,- 599, in which I have described many of the features of construction and advantages of operation of my invention.

An important object of my invention is the provision of an inexpensive metal supporting rack quickly attachable to the bolts of a conventional toilet seat which supports a pack o-f paper toilet seat covers in vertical position above and rearwardly of the toilet seat, said pack having an.,

elongated front opening through which paper seat covers are successively removed, and said rack having an apron hingedly mounted on said rack normally closing said pack opening.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an inexpensive paper package supporting device adapted to quickly and conveniently receive a relatively thin package of paper blanks or the like, and hold said blanks in a conveniently accessible position for normal Withdrawal, and having releasable key-controlled locking means for selectively locking the packageof blanks in the device from unauthorized withdrawal of the package.v i

A further object of my invention is the provision of an inexpensive and practical metal paper supporting rack adapted to retain a package in substantially vertical position and having horizontally extending arms engageable with the ends of the package and having a hingedly mounted apron adapted to normally cover an opening in the contained package for sanitary purposes.' L

' Other and important objects of this invention will be apparent from the following specification andclaims.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the following specification and claims.

On the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my metal paperk pack-holding rack attachable to the bolts of a standard toilet seat cover and showing a paper pack in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

the rack shown in Fig. 4 is across sectional View of my novel rackV and a paper container with a pack of sheets therein.`

The reference numeral 10 indicates an elongated U-shaped metal supporting member which is preferably formed by stamping or the like from a flat metal sheet of substantial rigidity, the legs 11 thereof being formed of sufticient'length to provide for bending the same. As indicated in Fig. 1, the legs 11 are bent perpendicularly and horizontally to saidy member 10 so that the same will be in a horizontal plane, and have formed in each thereof a pair of spaced apart slots or recesses 12 all in substantially parallel relation and extending diagonally'with respect to said legs. The purpose of this construction is to provide quick convenient mounting or dismounting with respect to the conventional spaced apart bolts of standard toilet seat covers. Secured horizontally upon the forward face of member 10 is a metal shelf l'having its lower edge bent downwardly and at right angles to permit convenient riveting or welding thereof to said member 10, andY having its opposite longitudinal edge 14 turned perpen-, dicularly and upwardly as indicated in the drawing, said .shelf forming a support for'a removable paper pack container `insertable into my rack from above. vThe upper'edge of ange 14 of shelf 13 is preferably bent back upon itself to forma bead as shown in cross `section in Fig. 3. A flat relatively rigid metal bar 15 is secured in upwardly extending and perpendicular relation to the upper edge of member 10, and has its lower end secured by rivets or the like to said member l0 as indicated at'Fig. 3. A flat metal cross-arm 16 having a rectangular depression formed midway between its ends, as indicated at 17, is secured midway between its ends by a plurality of screws 18 to bar 15 as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and so that said bar would be snugly received by said depressed portion of said cross-arm, thereby addingstrength andrigidity to the structure. The ends 19 of the cross-arm-l are bent at right ings and each said end has an aperture formed' therein. A thin metal cover or apron 20 of substantially rectangular shape, and having its lower edge 22 preferably turned outwardly and its upper edge 21 turned toform an annular longitudinal passageway, is hingedly connected to said crossarm ends by means of a thin metal rod or pintle 23, the ends of said pintle 23 being journalled in the apertures of cross-arm ends 19. The functions and advantages of apron 20 will be set forth hereinafter.

. A rectanguar box-like housing 24, preferably made of metal, and having its sides bent perpendicularly thereto, also has its two opposite ends bent at right angles thereto to form downwardly depending end flanges and 26 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The end flange 25 of housing 24 is preferably larger than flange 26 and has its two side edges extended and turned back upon themselves in such a manner that the same may be slipped upon and sldingly engage the upper end of bar 15. As indicated in Figs. l, 2, and 3, a relatively small snap lock housing 27 is secured in inverted horizontal position in the housing 24 by means of suitable rivets 28 passing through the lock casing side flanges and wall of housing 24 (Fig. 3), the cylinder 29 of said lock extending upwardly through a suitable aperture in wall of housing 24 for convenient access thereto. The bolt of lock 27 is springably mounted and has its beveled end facing downwardly as shown in Fig. 3 and is adapted to snap into releasable locking engagement with the upper edge of an elongated aperture 30 formed in the upper end of bar l15, as shown in cross section in Fig; 3. It will be apparent that key-controlled retraction of said lock bolt will permit complete removal of housing 24 whereupon a relatively thin cartonor other container may be inserted into the-aforedescribed device, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. To lock such carton or container into my rack, the housing 24 is replaced so that the side anges of housing end 25 slide upon the side edges ofi bar 15 and descend until bolt of lock 27 snaps into aperture 30. The forward downwardly extending ilange 26 extends below the plane of the upper edge of the paper carton and prevents unauthorized removal of the paper box or other container. When the paper seat covers have all been withdrawn from the container, the empty box may be quickly replaced as aforesaid.

The package either of paper or other material which is adapted to be inserted and held in the aforesaid rack is preferably rectangular and relatively thin, and is one in which a plurality of folded paper blanks are either retained within a partial wrapping or the like, or more preferable, mounted by frictional engagement and packed together in adjacent position upon a stiff backing sheet, preferably like that described in my copending application, Serial No. 701,599. The container or package of paper blanks preferably has a frontal opening which, when the package or other container is inserted into the aforedescribed rack, will normally be covered by the apron 20, thereby preventing dust or the like from entering upon the paper blanks.

It will be apparent that I have provided a novel package container and rack which is adapted to maintain in proper vertical and adjacent position, a plurality of folded paper seat covers in such a way that the paper seat covers will be maintained in frictional and supported position upon the aforedescribed paper backing sheet or other retaining means, and further that I have provided an inexpensive, quickly attachable and detachable rack for a package or container of seat covers, which will maintain the pack of seat covers in such a position with respect to a seat that upon withdrawal of the downwardly folded and forwardly extending seat cover peripheries, the respective seat covers will drop in proper position upon the seat.

It will be further apparent that I have provided novel means whereby the paper pack of seat covers is locked in inexpensive ,and highly practical key-controlled means to guard against unauthorized removal thereof, and further that such means includes a hinged element acting as a guard to normally close the front opening of the paper pack receptacle for sanitary purposes.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not desire to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a metal rack adapted to releasably support a relatively thin paper package or other container in substantially vertical position said rack comprising an inverted metal U-shaped member having lower extremities thereof bent at right angles to the vertical portion thereof, said bent portions having elongated recesses therein permitting releasable attachment of said rack; a horizontally and upwardly extending shelf secured in substantially horizontal position to said member and forming a trough; an upwardly extending bar secured at its lower e'nd to said member; a horizontally extendingcross-bar secured intermediate its ends to said vertical bar, the ends of said cross-bar being bent perpendicularly and horizontally and a metal apron hinged to said cross-arm ends and spaced apart from said cross-arm permitting descent therebetween of a package or the like.

2. In a device of the class described, a metal rack adapted to releasably support a relatively thin paper package or other container in substantially vertical position, said rack comprising an inverted metal U-shaped member having lower extremities thereof `bent at right angles to the vertical portion thereof, said bent portions having elongated recesses therein permitting releasable attachment of said rack; a horizontally and upwardly extending shelf secured in substantially horizontal position to said member and forming a trough; an upwardly extending bar secured at its lower end to said member; a horizontal extending cross-bar secured intermediate its ends to said vertical bar, the ends of said cross-bar being bent perpendicularly and horizontally, and releasable locking means slidably engaging the upper end of said vertical bar for preventing removal of a package or the like in said rack.

3. In a rack for supporting a relatively thin package or container in substantially vertical position, a metal mounting plate having a plurality of spaced apart downwardly and horizontally extending legs, said legs having elongated slots therein to permit convenient mounting of said rack, a horizontally and upwardly extending shelf secured on the forward side of said mounting plate and forming a trough therewith; an upwardly extending bar secured at its lower end to said mounting plate; a substantially horizontal cross-arm secured intermediate its ends to said bar,- the ends of said cross-arm being bent perpendicularly and forwardly; a metal apron hingedly connected to said cross-arm ends and spaced apart position from said cross-arm, said apron being adapted to normally shield an insertable package and a locking means engageable with the upper end of said bar for locking said pack in said rack.

4. In a rack for supporting a relatively thin package in substantially vertical position, a metal mounting plate having a plurality of spaced apart downwardly and horizontally extending legs, said legs having elongated slots therein to permit convenient mounting of said rack and a horizontally and upwardly extending shelf secured on the forward side of said mounting plate and forming a A'trough therewith; an upwardly extending bar secured at its lower end to said mounting plate; a substantially horizontal cross-arm secured intermediate its ends to said bar, the ends of said crossarm being bent perpendicularly and forwardly; a metal apron hingedly connected to said cross-arm ends and spaced apart position from said crossarm, and a releasable locking means engageable with the upper end of said bar for locking a paper 'receptacle or the like in said rack.

5. In a device of the class described, a metal rack adapted to releasably support a relatively thin paper package in substantially vertical position said rack comprising an inverted metal U-shaped member having recessed supporting legs; a substantially horizontal shelf secured intermediate its ends to said U-shaped member and at a point above said legs, said shelf being adapted to engage the lower end of an insertable package; an upwardly extending bar secured at its lower end to said member; a horizontally extending cross-bar secured intermediate its ends to said vertical bar, the ends of said cross-bar being bent perpendicularly and horizontally and a metal apron hinged to said cross-arm ends and spaced apart from said cross-arm permitting descent therebetween of a package or the like.

6. In a device of the classI described, a metal rack for releasably supporting a package or other container, said rack comprising a metal base having a pair of downwardly extending integral portions, said integral portions terminating in horizontally extending feet, said feet having elongated recesses therein to provide for convenient and releasable attachment of the rack, a transversely extending shelf secured on one side of said base a short distance above said feet, said shelf forming a rest upon which a package normally lies; an upwardly extending bar fastened at its lower end to said base; a cross-bar secured intermediate its ends to said vertical bar, the ends of said cross-bar being bent substantially perpendicularly thereto for engaging the respective opposite edges of an inserted package, and an apron having its opposite ends hingedly mounted on the forwardly extending ends of said cross-bar to form a closure f or an opening of an insertable package.

7. In a device of the class described, a metal rack for releasably supporting a package, said rack comprising a metal base having a pair of downwardly extending integral portions, said integral portions terminating in horizontally extending feet, said feet having elongated recesses therein to provide for convenient and releasable attachment of the rack, a transversely extending shelf secured on one side of said base a short distance above said feet, said shelf forming a rest upon which a package normally lies; an upwardly extending bar fastened at its lower end to said base; a cross-bar secured intermediate its ends to said vertical bar, the ends of said cross-bar being bent substantially perpendicularly thereto for engaging the respective opposite edges of an inserted package; and key-controlled releasable locking means slidably engaging and vertically movable along said vertical bar for releasably locking a package or the like into said rack.

8. In a metal rack adapted to releasably support a relatively thin package in substantially vertical position, said rack comprising a metal base having downwardly and horizontally extending legs, the horizontal portions of said legs having recesses therein to provide for releasable attachment of said rack; a horizontally extending shelf secured to said member and forming a support for a, package; an upwardly extending bar secured at its lower end to said base; a transversely extending cross-bar secured intermediate its ends to said vertical bar, the ends of said cross-bar being bent perpendicularly, and a metal apron hinged to said cross-arm ends and spaced apart from said cross-arm permitting descent therebetween of a package or the like.

JOHN C. THOMASMA. 

